The Portland daily press., 1887-02-12
Dr." Samuel York of Lewiston
Caught Selling Degrees.

The Boston Herald of yesterday contained
long exposure of the operations of one DR.
Samuel York of Lewiston, who is the Dean
of the Druidic University chartered some
years ago by Maine Legislature, one of the
corporators of the Maine Eclectic College
and the head of the Maine Eclectic Infirma-
ry. The reporter called on the doctor and
informed him that he wished to study medi-
cine in the Druidic University, and that he
intended after he got his diploma to practice
in Mexico. He told the doctor he had not
much time to spend, whereupon the doctor
suggested that for 500 the process of going
through the Druidic University might be
greatly facilitated. A trade was struck and
the doctor giving him two books to study,
told him to call again in the afternoon. He
did not study the books, but he called in the
afternoon and passed what the doctor con-
sidered very satisfactory examination in
anatomy, though he answered not single
question correctly, and was ranked 10O In
physiology the doctor thought he did not
succeed so well, and ranked him only 70. In
the practice of medicine he got 80. materia
medica 20, principles of surgery 20, obstet-
RIGS 70, chemistry 80. Inside of two DAYS
the reporter was examined in all these sub
Jects and pronounced wellup in them-though
he had never studied any Of them an hour
had written thesis and listened to an adj
dress from the Dean and got diploma from
university chartered by the State of Maine.
York, who styles himself "The Very Ven.
Professor S. York, NJ. D., Dean of the Fac
ulty of the Druidic University of America,
State of Maine Branch" and processes to
have graduated from his institution thous-
ands of students and turned them loose on
the community with diplomas in their peck
cts is densely ignorant, knowing nothing
about medicine and apparently very little
about anything else. Besides presiding
over the university York runs what he calls
an eclectic infrmary for the reception and
treatment of people afflicted with disease.
York, who is an old resident of Lew
iston, said to PRESS correspondent last
night, that he had not been connected with
the Eclectic College for two years, and
wouldn't say whether it was fraud or not.
About the selling by this institution of di-
ploma to one Lloyd he knew nothing He
had heard something of that kind, but
would not vouch for its truthfulness. DIR.
York is the presiding head of the Calder,
but there is no Mrs. Josie York in the estab-
lishment. The doctor appeared somewhat
excited. He said he had no diploma from a
Pennsylvania college. 81 cannot turn out"
he added, "any person as full-fedged ply
stefan in so short space of time as the Her
aid would have you believe. l told Mr.. Be
mis- dhe Herald reporter, he would have to
wait till next June and appear before the
board Of examiners before he would get a
regular diploma" The doctor claims that
the Herald man represented himself as hav-
ing studied medicine three years. and upon
that gave him thorough examination.
Mrs. York was very indignant at being
called hygiene lecturer, and threatens to
break the legs of Mr.. Benlis if he ever shows
his face there again. The doctor says Bemis
swore before the city clerk, and swore to
things untrue; among other things that he
had been school teacher The doctor says
he never saw Meals Compendium, and
thinks that Bemis must have taken books
from the house. He says he demonded his
fee as physician, nothing more. In word
the doctor claims that the whole converse
WIN DO lCpOAbCN NY tlO 1lCldlu 10 NuOlll HIS
construed. Miss Leonard will take oath to
this. The ceremony over the sword is all
fable, says the doctor In conclusion, he
said vehemently, HE has no diploma, but a
certificate according to the charter. keep
a straight record of all my students, and
they receive regular diploma to practice
medicine after studying seven years, or an
equivalent thereto" He acts like man
who knows he has got lot of free -advertis-
ing.
DR.. Reny, of Biddeford, who is a graduate
of the Maine Eclectic College, says that DR..
York was expelled by the faculty from that
institution year ago last fall, on account of
his ioverbearing conduct-acting as if he
owned the whole institution. DIR. Reny said
that he thought the attack upon the college
was the work of Boston physician who oc-
cupied the position of lecturer at one time
and was expelled for using indecent Ian
guage in the lecture room